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Monday, March 26, 2012

A KGW story details the Metro Step program, a $9.5 million grant that Portland Workforce Investment Board Work Systems won in a competition against 600 other applications nationwide. The "Step" stands for "Skills Training and Employment Partnership," which reflects the effort to enhance skills of workers at 25 Portland area companies over a four-year period.

Benchmade Knife Company in Oregon City is among the participating companies. The director of marketing for Benchmade noted, "The grant actually allows us to hire people and use the funds to train them on the job so that they can contribute on the factory floor." Benchmade will add about 50 positions.

Work Systems plans to train and place 650 new workers into employment, and "up-skill" an additional 400 current workers. One-fifth of the program participants will also complete a two-year degree.

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